The importance of Biodiversity

Biological diversity, or “biodiversity,” means the variety of plants, animals and other living things in a particular area or region. For instance, the species that inhabit California are different from those in Florida and desert plants and animals have different characteristics and needs than those in the mountains, even though some of the same species can be found in all of those areas.

Biodiversity also means the number, or abundance of different species living within a particular region. These regions are called ecosystems, natural areas made up of a community of plants, animals, and other living things in a particular physical and chemical environment.

Biodiversity suggests sustaining the diversity of species in each ecosystem to co exist with human life.

In reality, biodiversity suggests sustaining the diversity of species in each ecosystem to co exist with human life.

Why is Biodiversity Important?

There are many reasons why biodiversity is essential; not just for the vast variety of ecosystems that exist, but also for our own survival. We can break down the importance of biodiversity into four categories: Ecological Services, Aesthetics, Economical impacts, and Keystone Species.

Ecological Services-
This involves all of the free benefits that we receive just because of the existence of biodiversity. Medicinal resources that go into making pharmaceutical drugs, pollution breakdown and absorption, contributions to climate stability, and maintenance of the ecosystem, are all services that are very difficult and expensive and sometimes impossible to replace with human services if biodiversity were to decline.

Aesthetics-
Beauty exists in all shapes and sizes. Biodiversity pleases our eyes with sights like the flamboyant peacock and the bright yet toxic frogs of the Amazon. If biodiversity were to decline, many of these sights would be lost.

Economic Impacts-
Diversity is important to every individual, and certain organisms are essential to the promotion of cycles, such as the carbon cycle. Trees and plants break down carbon dioxide and provide the world with oxygen across the world. Replicating this process along with many others are difficult and expensive to replace.

Keystone Species-
Keystone Species are species that are vital to the maintenance of their communities. They provide specific services to other organisms that allow that community to continue to flourish.